2022 Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival | Event Schedule | Map of Event Locations | Parade Route Map | Mainstage Tickets + Fireworks and Carnival! | + Super Fun Things To Do Nearby!
Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival
Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival | By Sherry Trautman | Travel-Mi.com
Join us in Grand Haven Michigan to honor the incredible men and women of the United States Coast Guard!
- Enjoy the colorful Kids and Grand Parade (my favorite!), games and rides at the carnival, breathtaking fireworks, lively mainstage concerts, 5k, engaging ship tours, craft shows and so much fun!
When is the Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival in Michigan?
JULY 29 - AUGUST 7, 2022
How long is Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival? The festival runs for 10 days!
Where is the Coast Guard Festival? The festival is located in Grand Haven, Michigan - right along Lake Michigan!
Why is Grand Haven Coast Guard City? For several years the Coast Guard has been serving in the Grand Haven area. This festival celebrates the men and women of the United States Coast Guard serving in the West Michigan area.
Coast Guard Festival History
The Coast Guard Festival began in 1924 as a Coast Guard personnel only picnic. They enjoyed rowing competitions for those service members stationed in Grand Haven. Now, this incredible festival is attended by thousands including the nation's highest ranking Coast Guard dignitaries from Washington, D.C.
{Pretty cool, huh?}
The Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival focuses on the National Coast Guard Memorial Service honoring those who sacrificed their lives in service. So let's celebrate our heroes, the men and women of the United States Coast Guard!
Grand Haven is designated as the “Coast Guard City, USA” by an Act of Congress and signed by the President of the United States on November 13, 1998.
Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival Map
Check out the locations of the festival events on the interactive map below!
Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival Schedule of Events
Friday, July 29, 2022 Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival Events
Lighthouse Quilt Guild Quilt Show - 10 am-5 pm. This lovely quilt show is themed, “Of Sky and Sea” and you can see 100 quilts created by members, demonstrations, and hear stories about their antique quilts.
Location: St. Patrick’s Church, 901 Columbus Ave, Grand Haven, Michigan
Cost: FREE
Aeroforce - An Aerosmith Tribute Band 7:30 - 9:30 PM - The AEROFORCE history dates back to the early 90s. “Tyler” Bob Gregory and Paul Gayne brought together an Aerosmith tribute band for true Aerosmith fans!
Location: Waterfront Stadium
Tickets: $15.00, get your tickets early!
Saturday, July 30, 2022 Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival Events
Kids Parade - 10:30 am
Parade Route: (SEE MAP ABOVE) Parade route: start at 5th St. & Franklin, West on Franklin to 1st St., North on 1st to Washington, East on Washington to 5th St.
“Celebrating the Men & Women who keep THE LAKES…GREAT” is the theme of this parade
Location: See our Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival Map
Cardboard Boat Race Competition - 1:30pm
Location: Lake Michigan Credit Union Waterfront Stage
The Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival will feature two classes of racers in this fun 200-yard race. The Buoy Class is for ages 10-15 and the Cutter Class is open to anyone age 16 and older. Two-person and three - eight person vessels are allowed.
Prizes: Fastest time, Fleet Award, Iceberg Award and People’s Choice. The Fleet Award goes to the best themed boat, while the Iceberg Award is for the best sinking. One of our favorite things to do and see during the Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival.
Come see the boats from 12:00 p.m. until race time and vote for People’s Choice.
Tri-Cities YMCA Run (Coast Guard City U.S.A. Run) - 7:30 am
Whether you are an avid racer or an occasional walker, there is something for everyone and all ages are welcome. Their races consist of a US Track & Field certified 5k Run and 10k Run and a 1 Mile Family Fun Run/Walk (be sure to bring your wagon or stroller)
So come on out for the Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival 5k and 10k event!
Location: Grand Haven YMCA, 1 Y Dr, Grand Haven, MI US 49417
Lighthouse Quilt Guild Quilt Show - 9 am-4 pm. This lovely quilt show is themed, “Of Sky and Sea” and you can see 100 quilts created by members, demonstrations, and hear stories about their antique quilts.
Location: St. Patrick’s Church, 901 Columbus Ave.
Cost: FREE
Simply Queen - A Queen Tribute Band - 7:30 pm
Location: Lake Michigan Credit Union Waterfront Stage
You will love this live tribute band's iconic songs that have made Queen one of the most legendary rock bands of all time. Simply Queen recreates the grand scope of Queen’s live shows, both musically and visually. The band members are veteran musicians who have performed in festivals, theatres and arenas across North America and beyond!
Tickets: $15.00 Get your tickets early!
Sunday, July 31, 2022 Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival Events
Cruise-In Car Show - 7:30 am – 2:30 pm
Come on out from 1-4 pm at the Coast Guard Festival Community Picnic. Register early if you wish to have your vehicle in the show! Trophies and awards!
Location: Coast Guard Park, Ferrysburg, Michigan
Flea On Seventh - 10:00 am-4:00 pm
Shop dozens of vendors! 7th street between Washington and Columbus.
Location: 7th street between Washington and Columbus (SEE MAP)
Community Picnic - 1 pm-4 pm FREE
Enjoy food, games and music to celebrate the annual picnic that was the start of the Coast Guard Festival 98 years ago! Hosted by the City of Ferrysburg.
Location: Coast Guard Park, Ferrysburg
Pancake Breakfast - 7 am to 10:30 am
Location: 113 N 2nd Street, Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival Office
Cost: $10.00
Monday, August 1, 2022 Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival Events
Parade of Ships - 1 pm. FREE
Wave to the gorgeous CGC Hollyhock, CGC Spar, CGC Neah Bay, and CGC Biscayne Bay as they sail into the port of Grand Haven.
Location: Port of Grand Haven
Ship Tours - 6 pm – 8 pm - FREE. CGC Hollyhock, CGC Spar, CGC Neah Bay, CGC Biscayne Bay
Location: Escanaba Park
Rock'n Hop - 50's and 60's Music
The sock hop, soda shop, jukebox era is ready to rock! Enjoy a 1950’s and 1960’s dance party! There will be swingin’ rock n’ roll hits and classic slow dance ballads: Elvis, Tom Jones, Frankie Vallie and the Four Seasons, Paul Anka, Harry Belafonte, Connie Francis, Ritchie Valens, Del Shannon, Bill Haley and The Comets, and Fats Domino to name a few.
Location: Lake Michigan Credit Union Waterfront Stage
Tickets: $15.00 Get your tickets early!
Tuesday, August 2, 2022 Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival Events
Kids Day - 10 am-2 pm. FREE
Games, displays, storytelling, face painting, bounce houses and learn building basics, arts and crafts, and the Prince and Princess contest at Kids Day during the Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival! Get your photo taken on the Red Carpet and then look for it on our Facebook Page.
Visit the Meijer Food Truck and PNC Bank Mobile Learning Adventure Area.
Location: Mulligan’s Hollow
Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival Carnival 2022 - 6 pm-11 pm
Carnival rides, family friendly games, food concessions, and guest amenities like an on-site ATM and help desk. This is the place for family fun at the Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival!
Location: Harbor Front and Covenant Life parking lot (SEE MAP!)
Cost: $25 Armband
Street Dance With Brena - 8:30 pm-10:30 pm FREE
Enjoy The Grand Rapids cover band, Brena! Dance and sing along to hits from the 80s, 90s, and NOW. From “Shout” to Motown, rock, and country, the show has something for everyone!
Location: Washington Street between 3rd and 4th (SEE MAP!)
Ship Tours - 10 am-12 pm, 1 pm-3 pm and 6 pm – 8 pm. FREE CGC Hollyhock, CGC Spar, CGC Neah Bay, CGC Biscayne Bay
Location: Escanaba Park
Coastie Golf Tournament
This Golf Outing is for Retired and Current Coast Guard Personnel Only
Event Details: 18 Hole 4-person scramble, shotgun start 9:00 am, 18 holes of golf concluding with a luncheon and awards ceremony in the Founder’s Room.
– Registration at 8:00 am
– Shotgun start at 9:00 am.
Fee: Register early!
Location: American Dunes Golf Club – 17000 Lincoln St, Grand Haven, MI 49417
Ultimate Air Dogs - Tickets available for shows at 3:00 pm, 5:00 pm, & 7:00 pm
The philosophy of Ultimate Air Dogs is all about “family”. This is not a discipline sport in that two handlers are allowed on the dock at a time to help your pup stay in a “sit.”
From the smallest jumper to the biggest Ultimate high flyer, all breeds and sizes are encouraged… as long as they can swim!
Ultimate Air Dogs created the Divisional Finals, where the top 5 dogs from each division are invited to compete in a Grand Finale!
We put the dogs first by providing more open dock time than any other organization. Whenever possible, our dock is open for practice. If dogs are having difficulty learning, their crew of volunteers will often provide free help between activities.
What a fun activity during the Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival!
Location: Lake Michigan Credit Union Waterfront Stage
Cost: $7.00
Wednesday, August 3, 2022 Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival Events
Seniors Day - 8 am - 2 pm Mulligan's Hollow events. FREE!
- 8:00 am: Pickleball Tournament players 50 years and older, Mulligan’s Hollow Courts. Register!
- 10:00 am: Get Well Expo
- 10:00 am: Zumba, Cardio drumming and Line Dancing Instruction and Fun!
- 11:00 am: Entertainment
- Noon: Boxed lunch
- 12:45-2 pm: Bingo with prizes
- 12:45-2 pm: Musical Entertainment by Silverado
Softball Tournament - 8:30AM
Come on out to watch this competitive softball tournament between Coast Guard personnel only. Cheer like crazy!
Location: YMCA Softball Field
Ship Tours - 10 am-12 pm, 1 pm-3 pm and 6 pm – 8 pm. FREE CGC Hollyhock, CGC Spar, CGC Neah Bay, CGC Biscayne Bay and CCGS Risley
Location: Escanaba Park
Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival Carnival 2022 - 2 pm-11 pm
Carnival rides, family friendly games, food concessions, and guest amenities like an on-site ATM and help desk. This is the place for family fun at the Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival!
Location: Harbor Front and Covenant Life parking lot (SEE MAP!)
Cost: $25 Armband
Waterball Competition - 6:00 pm FREE
Come on out to watch a friendly competition with members of the Public Safety Departments, Local Fire Departments, and US Coast Guard Personnel. Somebody's gonna get wet!
Location: Washington Street between 3rd and 4th Street. (SEE MAP!)
The Retirees Dinner (Private Event) 5 pm
Reunion bbq for those retired from the United States Coast Guard. Reservations required.
Location: The Eagles - Columbus and 2nd St.
Red Carpet Photos - 5:30 pm-8:30 pm FREE
The kids will love getting a free Coast Guard Festival photo taken on the Red Carpet! Find yourself on the Festival Facebook page.
Better Bags Corn Hole Tournament Fundraiser - Register before Aug 2!!
Players meet at 5:15 pm with play beginning at 5:30 until about 9:00 pm.
Location: Lucy’s Deli Parking Lot
Cost: $50 for a team of two.
Parrots of the Caribbean - Jimmy Buffett Tribute - 7:30 pm.
Parrots of the Caribbean is an incredible stage show that "Puts the ROCK in Tropical Rock” as they feature a “Salute to Jimmy Buffett.”
Lead singer Dave Albrecht has emulated Jimmy Buffett for over 10 years. After rocking in Las Vegas for several years, he decided in 2000 to create the Jimmy Buffett persona.
Tickets: $15.00. Buy your tickets early!
Location: Lake Michigan Credit Union Waterfront Stage
Thursday, August 4, 2022 Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival Events
Ship Tours - 10 am-12 pm, 1 pm-3 pm and 6 pm – 8 pm. - FREE. CGC Hollyhock, CGC Spar, CGC Neah Bay, CGC Biscayne Bay and CCGS Risley.
Location: Escanaba Park
Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival Carnival 2022 - 2 pm-11 pm
Carnival rides, family friendly games, food concessions, and guest amenities like an on-site ATM and help desk. This is the place for family fun at the Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival!
Location: Harbor Front and Covenant Life parking lot (SEE MAP!)
Cost: $30 Armband
Community Dinner (Hero & Legends Dinner) 5 pm (Private, invite only)
Trilogy Classics Live - Journey, Foreigner, STYX Tribute -7:30 pm
Trilogy Classics Live is a group of 5 world class musicians brought together by their admiration and love for the 3 biggest, multi-platinum selling acts of the rock era….Journey, Foreigner and Styx.
Trilogy Classics Live will perform one hit after another of the most historic and successful songs ever written.
Tickets: $15.00. Buy your tickets early!
Location: Lake Michigan Credit Union Waterfront Stage
Friday, August 5, 2022 Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival Events
Coast Guard Spouses Breakfast - 8:30am PRIVATE
Coast Guard Craft Fair - 9 am-6 pm FREE.
Shop handmade arts and crafts!
Location: Central Park
Ship Tours - 10 am-12 pm, 1 pm-3 pm - FREE. CGC Hollyhock, CGC Spar, CGC Neah Bay, CGC Biscayne Bay and CCGS Risley.
Location: Escanaba Park
Walk of Coast Guard History 12 pm (noon) FREE
Dedicatiopn of the newest point of Coast Guard History.
Location: Grand Haven City Hall, 519 Washington Avenue Grand Haven, MI
Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival Carnival 2022 - 2 pm-11 pm
Carnival rides, family friendly games, food concessions, and guest amenities like an on-site ATM and help desk. This is the place for family fun at the Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival!
Location: Harbor Front and Covenant Life parking lot (SEE MAP!)
Cost: $30 Armband
Welcome Reception, 2:30 pm PRIVATE
National Memorial Service PRIVATE 4:00 pm
A moving tribute to those Coast Guard personnel who have died in the line of duty during the past year.
Location: Escanaba Park
Hotel California - An Eagles Tribute Band, 7:30 pm.
Hotel California toured from the 1980’s through today, rocking world-class tribute productions and sharing stages with the likes of The Doobie Bros., Lynyrd Skynyrd, Gretchen Wilson, REO Speedwagon, and more. From Japan to Dubai, Toronto to Texas, Hotel California has changed an industry’s collective mind about how good a “tribute” band is.
Tickets: $15.00. Buy your tickets early!
Location: Lake Michigan Credit Union Waterfront Stage
Saturday, August 6, 2022 Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival Events
Coast Guard Craft Fair - 9:00 am-5:00 pm FREE
Shop handmade arts and crafts!
Location: Central Park
Ship Tours -10 am-12 pm, 1 pm-3 pm and 6 pm – 8 pm. - FREE. CGC Hollyhock, CGC Spar, CGC Neah Bay, CGC Biscayne Bay and CCGS Risley.
Location: Escanaba Park
Grand Parade -11:45 am FREE
See more than 100 entries salute the men & women of the United States Coast Guard in this annual event.
Location: See our Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival Map. The Grand Parade begins on Sheldon St at Colfax.
Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival Carnival 2022 - 12 pm-11 pm
Carnival rides, family friendly games, food concessions, and guest amenities like an on-site ATM and help desk. This is the place for family fun at the Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival!
Location: Harbor Front and Covenant Life parking lot (SEE MAP!)
Cost: Valid from 12 pm-4 pm: $20 armband; tickets only after 4 pm.
Brass Transit - Chicago Tribute Band / Fireworks
Since 2008, Brass Transit has toured North America dazzling audiences with incredible performances. Hits like, Saturday In The Park, 25 or 6 To 4, If You Leave Me Now, Feelin’ Stronger Every Day and You’re The Inspiration will leave you breathless! Brass Transit recently produced their first (self-titled) album, taking songs by other top rock artists from the seventies and recording them with horns in the Chicago style. Get ready for a night of fun and singing! This concert ticket also includes the Fireworks Extravaganza Show!
Tickets: $25.00 Get your tickets early!
Location: Lake Michigan Credit Union Waterfront Stage
Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival Fireworks Extravaganza 2022!
Location: Starts at dark and can be viewed from the Waterfront!
Top Things To Do in Grand Haven Michigan!
After enjoying the Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival, be sure to stay in the area to enjoy the beach, state park, shops and more!
Grab our Grand Haven guide for lots of fun ideas of things to do!
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